The Arepa is the new, free English-language guide to culture and nightlife in Medellin. Robin Finley made the move from California to Colombia a few months ago, and immediately set about creating an entertaining monthly source of local information and event info.
Robin holding issue #2 of The Arepa
To properly launch the guide, he hosted a party at the Melodie Lounge in Poblado last Wednesday evening. I haven’t been hanging out in lounges much, mostly due to their high drink prices, but to my surprise, I’d been to this one a few months earlier. It took me a half hour to receive a mojito this time around, but it was also unusually busy for a Wednesday I’m sure. The lounge has two floors, and like the first time I was there, the lower level was empty. The upper level, on the other hand, was filled with people, most of them there for The Arepa party.
Chillin' out. From left: Sirley, Marcela, me, and Katharina. Photo by Henry Gomez.
I was happy to see the usual and wonderful mix of Colombian and foreign couchsurfers, along with a few of the older expats living in the city. I had cheated. I read the whole PDF of the second issue, before arriving. It felt very much like reading a blog, maybe even THIS blog! Perhaps that is why I liked it so much. It was non-glossy, humorous, entertaining, and informative. In particular, I really appreciated the event and movie listings. Interviews with musicians and graffiti artists were also fun to read. I know Robin will continue to develop the style and format over the coming months, but I hope The Arepa will continue to maintain a backpacker appeal and aesthetic. Judging from the amount of advertising he has already acquired, he should be in good shape.
The Melodie Lounge
I took the opportunity to introduce myself to Robin, and share my feedback. He recognized me as the guy who runs this blog. I offered to contribute something to the July issue, an article idea for the blog I’ve had on my mind for a few months now. Perhaps all that procrastination served a purpose – the opportunity to reach an audience via print!
The print version of The Arepa is distributed across the city, including all the hostels, and a selection of the big universities, popular hotels, and foreigner-frequented cafes and bars. The PDF version is available online via The Arepa website.
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Melodie Lounge – Carrera 37 #10-29, Poblado, Medellin. Phone: 268-1190. Wraps, cocktails, cafe, and music (DJ). Open 7 days a week.
Interview with the owners of Melodie Lounge about the concept and design.
